ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION

Whenever an electric charge accelerates

(changes speed or direction) it emits an electromagnetic wave. Depending on how fast the charge accelerates or wiggles, it will give off different forms of electro-magnetic radiation such as radio waves, infra red, light waves, ultra violet, x-rays, or gamma rays (these are in order from lowest to highest frequency.) The entire range of these waves is referred to as the ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM.